Safe hospital preparedness in the era of COVID-19: The Swiss cheese model

Ji Yun Noh, Joon Young Song, Jin Gu Yoon, Hye Seong, Hee Jin Cheong, Woo Joo Kim, Ji Yun Noh, Joon Young Song, Jin Gu Yoon, Hye Seong, Hee Jin Cheong, Woo Joo Kim

Abstract

Since it first emerged in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide. During the pandemic of an emerging infectious disease, it is very important to prevent nosocomial outbreaks and operate hospitals safely to maintain their functions. In this article, we present the strategies for safe hospital operations based on the experiences of the Republic of Korea early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Each hospital should maintain multiple layers of defenses to prevent even small cracks in the hospital's quarantine system.

Keywords: COVID-19; Health personnel; Hospital planning; Infection control; SARS-CoV-2.

Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic and safe hospital strategies in South Korea. A ‘safe hospital’ is a healthcare facility equipped with the infrastructure for infection control and prevention that meets the national standards: gate screening and separation of treatment areas between patients with respiratory illnesses and those with non-respiratory illnesses.

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Source: PubMed

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